Paksha (Sanskrit: पक्ष, romanized: pakṣa) refers to a fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar.[1][2]
Literally meaning "side",[3]apaksha is the period either side of the purnima (full moon day). A lunar month in the Hindu calendar has two fortnights, and begins with the amavasya (new moon). The lunar days are called tithis; each month has 30 tithis, which may vary from 20 – 27 hours. A paksha has 15 tithis, which are calculated by a 12 degree motion of the moon. The first fortnight between the new moon day and the full moon day is called the Gaura PakshaorShukla Paksha (lit. 'white/bright/golden side'), the period of the brightening moon (waxing moon), and the second fortnight of the month is called the Vadhya PakshaorKrishna Paksha (lit. 'dark/black side'), the period of the fading moon (waning moon).[1][4] The Neemuch calendar begin a new lunar month from first day of Krishna Paksha, while the Gujarat calendar begins a new lunar month from the first day of Shukla Paksha.
| Shukla Paksha | Krishna Paksha |
|---|---|
| 1. Prathama | 1. Prathama |
| 2. Dvitiya | 2. Dvitiya |
| 3. Tritiya | 3. Tritiya |
| 4. Chaturthi | 4. Chaturthi |
| 5. Panchami | 5. Panchami |
| 6. Shashti | 6. Shashti |
| 7. Saptami | 7. Saptami |
| 8. Ashtami | 8. Ashtami |
| 9. Navami | 9. Navami |
| 10. Dashami | 10. Dashami |
| 11. Ekadashi | 11. Ekadashi |
| 12. Dwadashi | 12. Dwadashi |
| 13. Thrayodashi | 13. Thrayodashi |
| 14. Chaturdashi | 14. Chaturdashi |
| 15. Purnima | 15. Amavasya, Ausi |
Shukla Paksha refers to the bright lunar fortnight or waxing moon in the Hindu calendar. Shukla (Sanskrit: शुक्ल) is a Sanskrit word for "white" or "bright". The Shukla Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after the amavasya (new moon) day and culminating on purnima (full moon) day and is considered auspicious.[5]
Numerous festivals are held during this period, including the Navaratri festivals, most importantly Chaitra Navaratri and Ashvin Navaratri.
| Day | Tithi | Festival | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st day | Pratipada | Gudi Padwa, Ugadi | Chaitra |
| 1st day | Pratipada | Bali Pratipada, Govardhan Puja | Kartika |
| 2nd day | Dvitiya | Bhaibeej | Kartika |
| 3rd day | Tritiya | Teej | Bhadrapada |
| 3rd day | Tritiya | Akshaya Tritiya | Vaishakha |
| 4th day | Chaturthi | Ganesh Chaturthi | Bhadrapada |
| 4th day | Chaturthi | Ganesh Jayanti | Magha |
| 5th day | Panchami | Nuakhai | Bhadrapada |
| 5th day | Panchami | Vivaha Panchami | Margashirsha |
| 5th day | Panchami | Vasanta Panchami | Magha |
| 6th day | Shasthi | Sitalsasthi | Jyestha |
| 8th day | Ashtami | Radhashtami | Bhadrapada |
| 9th day | Navami | Rama Navami | Chaitra |
| 10th day | Dashami | Vijayadashami | Ashvin |
| 11th day | Ekadashi | Shayani Ekadashi | Ashadha |
| 11th day | Ekadashi | Vaikuntha Ekadashi | Margashirsha |
| 14th day | Chaturdashi | Samvatsari | Bhadrapada |
| 15th day (full moon) | Purnima | Guru Purnima | Ashada |
Krishna Paksha refers to the dark lunar fortnight or waning moon in the Hindu calendar. Krishna (Sanskrit: कृष्ण) is a Sanskrit word for "dark". Krishna Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after purnima day (full moon), culminating on the amavasya (new moon). Krishna Paksha is considered inauspicious,[6] as the moon loses light during this period.
Festivals during the Krishna Paksha are:
| Day | Tithi | Festival | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th day | Chaturthi | Karva Chauth | Kartika |
| 8th day | Ashtami | Krishna Janmashtami | Bhadrapada |
| 13th day | Thrayodashi | Dhanteras | Kartika |
| 13th day | Thrayodashi | Pradosha | Magha |
| 14th day | Chaturdashi | Maha Shivaratri | Magha |
| 14th day | Chaturdashi | Naraka Chaturdashi (Diwali) | Kartika |
| 15th day (no moon) | Amavasya | Lakshmi Puja (Diwali) | Kartika |
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InVedic astrology when a person does a prasna (a question chart) and the planet Venus indicates the time period, the event referred to in the answer will happen in a pakṣa (fortnight) from the time the question was asked.